SECURITY Minister Derrick Smith made it clear yesterday that it is the Police Services Commission (PSC) and not the political directorate that will select the new police chief, as speculations heighten about the choice to replace Commissioner Lucius Thomas, who leaves the job this month-end.

Reliable Observer sources said last week that assistant commissioners Novelette Grant, Owen Ellington and Carl Williams were the front-runners for the top job in the constabulary. However, there have been subsequent reports that the force could, for the second time in its history, be looking for an outsider to be the new police chief.

Retired army colonel, Trevor MacMillan, in the 1990s made history when he was selected as the first non-serving officer to head the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Senior members of the constabulary as well as members of the rank-and-file have, however, since Thomas’ announcement last week, been dead set against the idea of the position of commissioner being filled by an outsider.

But yesterday, Minister Smith, while speaking at the 25th Anniversary Service of Cops for Christ Ministry – an arm of the JCF’s Community Relations Division – at the Jamaica Evangelistic Association’s headquarters in Kingston, made it clear that the final call would be made by the PSC.

“In today’s (Sunday) newspaper we have advertisements for Commissioner Thomas’ post. The duty to have the post filled is that of the Police Service Commission.We have a lot of trust in the commission,” a composed Smith said.

Yesterday’s newspaper advertisement invited ‘suitably qualified’ candidates ‘within or outside’ the force to apply. Emoluments, the ad said, was within the government’s scale. Deadline for receiving all applications is set for October 31.

“The advertisements suggest that individuals inside and outside the force are being invited to apply. I am sure that when the commission has completed selection they will have the person best suited for the job,” Smith said.

Speaking on whether an outsider should get the job above others within the ranks who are said to be prime for the role, Smith told the Observer that those who have those concerns are within their own rights and will voice it, but repeated that the matter was entirely in the hands of the Police Services Commission.

“I leave it up to them… I would imagine that as soon as possible after today (yesterday), applicants will forward their applications to the commission,” the security minister added.

At the same time, he expressed his appreciation for Thomas’ contribution to the force.

“I must publicly say thank you to Commissioner Lucius Thomas for over 30 years of service. Commissioner Thomas is a shining example to a young police officer joining the force. We thank you for your service and we respect your decision to retire at this time,” Smith said.

Thomas, last Wednesday, dismissed claims that he had resigned because of conflicts with Minister Smith and the new Jamaica Labour Party Government. The speculations of a rift with the new government was heightened with the commissioner’s announcement coming a day after a disclosure by the ministry that the head of the Jamaica Defence Force, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, would be retiring from that post on October 27.